​​At the heart of Hanover Place is the innovative ‘share home’ concept — an architectural response to the growing need for sustainable, socially connected urban living. Designed by Breathe in collaboration with local partner The Development Collective, the project reimagines student accommodation, offering a model that is independent, considered, and community-focused.

Located on a prominent corner site in central Dunedin, this three-storey mixed-use development integrates compact residential living with active commercial frontage. Sixteen studio apartments are supported by generous shared facilities on the ground floor, including a communal lounge, kitchen, laundry, and secure storage. These spaces are carefully positioned to encourage everyday interaction, while circulation and apartment layouts maintain a balance of privacy and connection. The result is a socially resilient environment that fosters collaboration, casual encounters, and a shared sense of purpose.

Commercial tenancies along Hanover and Filleul Streets create a fine-grain urban interface that activates the streetscape, with a covered arcade on Filleul Street providing shelter and legibility to the commercial edge. The residential lobby is recessed to the north, offering clear definition and privacy for residents. Above, two levels of studio apartments, eight per floor, establish a rhythmic and human-scaled pattern of private dwellings.

Hanover Place reflects a deliberate, values-led approach to urban housing — compact yet generous, efficient yet human, durable yet soft. It creates more than a building; it forms a small ecosystem of living and shared experience. Its mix of residential and commercial uses, thoughtful material expression, and socially responsive planning offer a compelling model for contemporary city living.

Centrally located just one block from the cafés, bars, and retail of George Street, and three blocks from the University of Otago, Hanover Place encourages a car-light, walkable lifestyle. Daily essentials, social spots, and public transport are all easily accessible on foot or by bike, supporting a low-impact, connected way of life.

Hanover Place makes the most of its urban surroundings, putting people at the centre of the experience, and offering a new vision for socially connected, sustainable city living in Ōtepoti Dunedin.